Photo by Ryan Lely
Mark Nelson, president of client development and strategy at Nelson Family Companies, has announced his intended departure after 20 years at the Sonoma-based company.
The son of founder and chairman Gary Nelson, the younger Nelson played a significant role in the development and growth of the Nelson businesses, which include Nelson Staffing, an executive, full-time and temporary talent placement service, and WorkforceLogic, a workforce management company, among other interests.
“I’ve learned so much, and I’ve had the gift of working with my dad, Gary, for 20 years and being exposed to one of the greatest entrepreneurs around,” said Nelson, who will continue serving as an elected member of the Nelson Board of Directors and retains his equity stake in the business. “For a little perspective, when I came here 20 years ago, he was going to retire in two years, and I was going take over. I’m glad it didn’t happen. I’m really glad it didn’t happen, because frankly, I wasn’t ready for that.”
The company was founded in 1970 by Gary Nelson and, according to Staffing Industry Analysts, has grown into the 64th largest staffing company in the United States and is the largest independent human capital solutions company in Northern California. Revenues for 2007 were $395 million. Among its holdings are a successful accounting and finance professional staffing division, now called Nelson & Associates, which the younger Nelson founded in 1988, as well as online ventures NelsonJobs.com, a leading Northern California job board, and HRhome, a subscriber-based online resource for human resource professionals
“Mark has been relentless in his drive to make this company a success and we will all miss that tremendously,” remarked his father, Gary Nelson. “He has worked side-by-side with me in taking our business to levels we never dreamed about.”
Nelson is exploring personal business pursuits, though has not announced how these might take shape.
“There’s just other things I want to do and when you’re in a role and in a position like I’m in, it’s all-consuming. I do want to emphasize something – I’m not going away. I’m still going to be a shareholder, I’m still going to be on the board of directors. I am very involved in the community, mostly in Marin, but to a particular degree in Sonoma. I am not moving. I will continue to be an avid supporter and resource to the Nelson Family of Companies.”
For an in-depth interview with Mark Nelson, read the Tuesday, Nov. 25 edition of the Sonoma Valley Sun.
